Monday, May 9, 2011

Week 4

I don't have time to put down something thought provoking right now... but Im leaving this.. cuz I know Aunt Joyce is ready :) Ill have time tomorrow...

We need to think of another book... as well...

6 comments:

  1. Yes, I am done so I'll do what I can. The ending did turn out like I had hoped where Zoe could have her child, FINALLY. But it sure came at a horrible price with the trial and everybody knowing now that she is a lesbian and almost losing her job. But Max came through and did do the right thing. When Libby told him that he should do the right thing, I can't help but wonder if that is what she meant for him to give Zoe the embryos or for her to have them so that the children could grow up in a "good Christian" home with the normal Mom and Dad thing. Although Libby did tell Zoe outside the courtroom that she always thought Zoe would be a good mother.

    So who would have thought that Libby and Max would end up together. What about Reid, the brother, who did soooooo much for Max. Nothing is said about that at the end. That leaves me wondering. I know that is a happy ending for Libby and Max to be together but Reid?????

    I think that the Pastor was definitely sleazy in some ways (using emotions to manipulate his congregation and then his stepdaughter, Lucy, to clinch the outcome that he thought would be the best.) Religion has always been a control issue on the masses since the early Biblical days on down to the Cahtolic church and on and on. Bet he was surprised at the action that Max and Libby took.

    This book definitely gives us a glimpse on life as a Christian or being gay. Saw the good and the bad.

    I'll look for suggestions on books to read and I know you will, too. Your mom came up with a good one when she suggested The Help. Maybe she has heard of more that are good. Do you think you'll have time to read once you go in the hospital for Breslin and then come home??? Would you prefer to take a month off so you can get into a routine? So excited!

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  2. Here are two suggestions I discovered while out. One is titled Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. It's 1941 and 15 yr old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia and her dad has been separated from the family, sentenced to death in a prison camp. Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers by documenting their experience in her art and writing.She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they ar still alive. It shows incredible strength, love and hope but is love enought to keep them alive?
    Another one that caught my interest is I'll Walk Alone by Mary HIggins Clark.It's a page turning thriller.It kind of sounds like "Love You More", though. At 32, Alexandra has reached the pinnacle of success.. and the depths of despair when two years ago her toddler disappears from Central Park. Nothing can prepare her for the craziness that begins when pictures surface that seem to show her stealing her own child, and she is subsequently indicted for kidnapping him. It's full of twists and turns and a terrible truth.
    So these are suggestions for your consideration.
    Oh, thought of another one, - Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan. It's an "engrossing fable about Meridia, a young bride eager to leave behind a life steeped in ghostly enchantment only to find that her new family harbors secrets even stranger than those she left behind."

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  3. I can finally post!!!! Yeah :) My blogger was completely down for the last three days... I couldn't blog on any of my three blogs! I liked the ended too. I didn't think it was going to end up that way at all. And I do agree with you Aunt Joyce, it just stinks that everybody got dragged through the mud to have Max might the right decision all the way at the end. Who knows how things would have turned out differently if Max would have just said yes in the first place?!?!

    I completely agree with you with the Max and Liddy thing as well. That completely through me for a loop... I feel horrible for Reid, he did nothing but support his wife and his brother. I think they either should have left that part out, or expanded on it a bit.. but just by giving that little tid bit it makes you wonder.

    It was very interesting seeing both sides of gays and Christianity. Jodi Picoult did a good job of sharing both the pros and cons of both viewpoints and lifestyles. I had no idea what this book was about to begin with, but it ended up being pretty good, definitely took me for a ride, and always kept me guessing on what would happen next.

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  4. Any of those sound good.... either the first one or the second one is my vote!

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  5. Do you want to do the Mary Higgins Clark book? I know your mom used to love reading her mom's books (Carol Higgins Clark). They're good authors. I'll call your mom to get her attention and she has to post yet.

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  6. I'm not sure it will do good for me to post. As always I'm apologizing for my late response. The book was read but I'm trying to get used to my new computer, had my files transferred and found out I don't have 'My Favorites' on here. So, I had to get your blog address from A. Joyce. Plus the time it took to get things transferred at Best buy.
    Anyway, the book turned out really well. There were time periods, again, when I was overwhelmed with all the medical technology of Invetro stuff when it was brought up in court. I was getting soooo frustrated with Max and what he was putting Zoe through. Plus when he was getting feelings for his brother's wife - after all his brother had done for him. And Liddy sure seemed to be there all the time for Max. I felt that through it all, Zoe maintained her"cool" (believed in who she is and what she wanted) with everything that was going around her - especially with the literal translation of certain passages from the Bible that the Pastor Clive was holding on to. Fanatical religious and political people sure make you want to cringe. Destroying Zoe and Vanessa's character plus the entire gay community. Very blindsided, the way he was attacking.
    Way to step up to the plate for the lawyer defending Zoe's right to the embryos when she threw back some passages that the Pastor was not preaching and living by. Anything can be taken out of context and interpreted by individuals the way they want it to be.
    For a while I thought that Vanessa was a little unreasonable and I thought she might end up 'breaking up' with Zoe concerning the abortion. Then when she didn't tell Zoe about her 'hospital stay'. I was thinking, yes, what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. Her jealously for a while was somewhat misguided, Zoe did not deserve that.
    Well, eventually I was pleased with Max's decision, surprised at the outcome of his relationship/marriage to Libby. And your right Joyce, what happened to Reid? Who decided that the marriage wasn't going to work? Liddy or Reid? Did he find out? How did it initially affect Liddy, being the "good Christian" she was and having strong feelings for her husband's brother while married?
    Was also a bit disappointed with Lucy...wow, she sure is not happy with her life. No matter what, it seemed like she could not let go of her depression, felt sorry for her but thought that she would stick up for Zoe through all of it.
    I'll Walk Alone sounds good to me although the other book does as well. Yes, I do enjoy Mary Higgins Clark books - easy reads and at this time of the school year, I could use it (lighthouses, having to get subs in for transition of 4th graders to Kinawa, getting subs for looking over test scores and placements for fifth grade, two field trips, etc) but I know Jen, yours sound much more hectic with Breslin ready to change your world :)

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